Eddic poems

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Hljóðs bið ek allar

I ask a hearing of all

kindir

kindreds,

meiri ok minni

greater and lesser,

mögu Heimdalar

sons of Heimdall;

vildu að ek Valföðr

you wish, Father of the Slain, that I

vel fyr telja

should recount well

forn spjöll fira

the ancient tales of men,

þau er fremst um man.

the earliest that I remember.

Ek man jötna

I remember giants

ár um borna

born early in time,

þá er forðum mik

who long ago

fædda höfðu.

had raised me.

mjötvið mæran

the glorious measuring-tree

fyr mold neðan.

below the earth.

Ár var alda

It was early in the ages

þar er Ýmis byggði

when Ymir lived;

var-a sandr né sær

there was neither sand nor sea

né svalar unnir

nor cool waves;

jörð fannz æva

earth was nowhere found

ne upphiminn

nor heaven above;

gap var gꝛiɴvnga

there was the gap of Ginnunga

en gras hvergi.

and grass nowhere,

Áðr Burs synir

before Bor's sons

bjöðum um yppðu

lifted up the lands,

þeir er Miðgarð

those who shaped

mæran skópu.

glorious Midgard.

Sól skein sunnan

The sun shone from the south

á salar steina

on the stones of the hall;

þá var grund gróin

then the ground was grown

grænum lauki.

with green leeks.

Sól varp sunnan

The sun cast from the south,

sinni mána

the moon's companion,

hendi inni hægri

her right hand

um himin jódýr.

over the rim of heaven.

Sól það né vissi

The sun did not know

hvar hon sali átti

where she had her halls;

stjörnur það né vissu

the stars did not know

hvar þær staði áttu

where they had their places;

máni þaðan né vissi

the moon did not know

hvað hann megins átti.

what power he had.

Þá gen gengu regin öll

Then all the powers went

á rökstóla

to their judgement-seats,

ginnheilög goð

the most holy gods,

ok um það gættuz

and deliberated on this:

nótt ok niðjum

to night and the moon's phases

nöfn um gáfu

they gave names;

morgin hétu

morning they named

ok miðjan dag

and midday,

undorn ok aftann

mid-afternoon and evening,

árum at telja.

to count the years.

Hittuz æsir

The Æsir met

á Iðavelli

on Idavöll,

þeir er hörg ok hof

they who raised altars and temples

hátimbruðu.

high-timbered;

afla lögðu

they set up forges,

auð smíðuðu

smithed treasure,

tangir skópu

shaped tongs

ok tól gjörðu.

and made tools.

Teflðu í túni

They played at board-games in the yard,

teitir vóru.

they were merry;

var þeim vettergis

they had no lack at all

vant ór gulli.

of anything of gold,

unz iii kvómu

until three came,

þursa meyjar

maidens of the giants,

ámátkar mjök

very mighty,

ór jötunheimum.

out of Jötunheim.

Þá gengu regin öll

Then all the powers went

á rökstóla

to their judgement-seats,

ginnheilög goð

the most holy gods,

ok um það gættuz

and deliberated on this:

hverr skyldi dverga

who should shape the lord

dróttin skepja

of dwarfs

ór Brimis blóði

out of Brimir's blood

ok ór blám leggjum.

and out of dark limbs.

Þar Mótsognir

There Mótsognir

mæztr um orðinn

had become the most renowned

dverga allra

of all dwarfs,

en Durinn annarr

and Durin the second;

þeir mannlíkun

they made likenesses of men,

mörg um gjörðu

many of them,

dvergar ór jörðu

dwarfs, out of the earth,

sem Durinn sagði.

as Durin said.

Nýi. ok Niði

Nýi and Nídi,

Norðri ok Suðri

Nordri and Sudri,

langniðja tal

the reckoning of the long line

Lofars hafað.

of Lofar's kindred, kept.

Unz þrír kvómu

Until three came

ór því liði

out of that company,

öflgir ok ástgir

mighty and loving

æsir að húsi.

Æsir, to the house.

fundu á landi

They found on the land,

lítt megandi

of little strength,

Ask ok Emblu

Ask and Embla,

örlöglausa

without destiny.

Önd þau né áttu

Breath they did not have,

óð þau né höfðu

spirit they did not have,

lá né læti

neither blood nor bearing

né litu góða.

nor good colour.

Önd gaf Óðinn

Odin gave breath,

óð gaf Hænir

Hœnir gave spirit,

lá gaf Lóðurr

Lódur gave blood

ok litu góða.

and good colour.

Ask veit ek standa

An ash I know standing,

heitir Yggdrasill

it is called Yggdrasil,

hárbaðmr ausinn

a tall tree, drenched

hvíta auri,

with white clay;

þaðan koma döggvar

from there come the dews

þærs í dala falla

that fall in the valleys;

stendr æ yfir grænn

it stands ever green over

Urðar brunni.

the well of Urd.

Þaðan koma meyjar

From there come maidens

margs vitandi

knowing much,

þrjár ór þeim sæ

three, out of the lake

er und þolli stendr

that stands under the tree.

Urð hétu eina

One they called Urd,

aðra Verðandi

the second Verdandi;

skáru á skíði

they carved on a tablet of wood;

Skuld ena þriðju;

Skuld the third.

þær lög lögðu

They laid down laws,

þær líf kuru

they chose lives

alda börnum

for the children of men,

örlög seggja.

the fates of men.

Það man hon fólkvíg

She remembers the war of peoples,

fyrst í heimi

the first in the world,

er Gullveig

when Gullveig

geirum studdu

they pierced with spears

ok í höll Hárs

and in the hall of the High One

hána brenndu.

burned her.

þrysvar brenndu

Three times they burned

þrysvar borna

the three times born,

oft ósjaldan

often, not seldom,

þó hon enn lifir.

yet she still lives.

Heiði hana hétu

Heid they called her,

hvar til húsa kom

wherever she came to houses,

völu velspá

a seeress of good prophecy;

vitti hon ganda

she charmed spirits;

seið hon kunni

seiðr [sorcery] she knew,

seið hon leikinn

seiðr she worked, entranced;

æ var hon angan

she was ever the delight

illrar brúðar.

of an evil woman.

Þá gengu regin öll

Then all the powers went

á rökstóla

to their judgement-seats,

ginnheilög goð

the most holy gods,

ok um það gættuz

and deliberated on this:

hvárt skyldu æsir

whether the Æsir should

afráð gjalda

pay tribute,

eða skyldu goðin öll

or all the gods should

gildi eiga.

have a share in it.

Fleygði Óðinn

Odin hurled [his spear]

ok í fólk um skaut

and shot into the host;

það var enn fólkvíg

that was still the war of peoples,

fyrst í heimi

the first in the world;

brotinn var borðvegr

broken was the board-wall

borgar ása

of the Æsir's stronghold;

knáttu Vanir vígspá

the Vanir, with war-spells, could

völlu sporna.

tread the plains.

Þá gengu regin öll

Then all the powers went

á rökstóla

to their judgement-seats,

af veði Valföðrs

from the pledge of the Father of the Slain.

vituð ér enn eða hvat.

Do you know yet, or what?

Ein sat. hon úti

Alone she sat outside

þá er inn aldni kom

when the old one came,

yggjungr ása

the dread one of the Æsir,

ok í augu leit:

and looked into her eyes:

hvers fregnit mik

What do you ask of me?

hví freistit mín

Why do you test me?

allt veit ek Óðinn

I know everything, Odin,

hvar þú auga falt

where you hid your eye

þitt í inum mæra

in the renowned

Mímis brunni

well of Mímir.

Drekkr mjöð Mímir

Mímir drinks mead

morgin hverjan

every morning

af veði Valföðrs

from the pledge of the Father of the Slain.

vituð ér enn eða hvat

Do you know yet, or what?

Valði henni Herföðr

The Father of Hosts chose for her

hringa ok men

rings and necklaces,

fé spjöll spaklig

wealth, wise sayings

ok spáganda

and prophecy-staffs;

sá hon vítt ok um vítt

she saw far and wide

of veröld hverja.

over every world.

Sá hon valkyrjur

She saw valkyries

vítt um komnar

come from far and wide,

görvar að ríða

ready to ride

görvar að ríða

ready to ride

grund valkyrjur.

over the earth, the valkyries.

Ek sá Baldri

I saw for Baldr,

blóðgum tívur

the bloodied god,

Óðins barni

Odin's child,

oꝛ log fólgin

his fate concealed.

stóð um vaxinn

There stood, grown up

völlu hæri

higher than the plains,

mjór ok mjök fagr

slender and very fair,

mistilteinn.

the mistletoe.

Varð af þeim meiði

From that stem there came,

er mær sýndiz

which seemed slender,

harmflaug hættlig

a dangerous dart of harm;

Höðr| nam skjóta.

Höd began to shoot.

Baldrs bróðir var

A brother of Baldr was

of borinn snemma

born soon after;

sá nam Óðins sonr

that son of Odin began

einnættr vega.

to fight at one night old.

Þó hann æva hendr

He never washed his hands

né höfuð kembði

nor combed his head

áðr á bál um bar

before he bore to the pyre

Baldrs andskota.

Baldr's adversary.

en Frigg um grét

And Frigg wept

í Fensölum

in Fensalir

vá Valhallar

for the woe of Valhalla.

Vituð ér enn eða hvat

Do you know yet, or what?

Haft sá hon liggja

A captive she saw lying

undir hvera lundi

under the grove of hot springs,

lægjarns líki

in the shape of the harm-loving one,

Loka áþekkjan.

resembling Loki.

Þar sitr Sigyn

There sits Sigyn,

þeygi um sínum

not at all over her

ver velglýjuð

husband rejoicing.

vituð þér enn eða hvat

Do you know yet, or what?

Á fellr austan

A river falls from the east

um eitr ꝺala

through venom-valleys

ok þanns annars glepr

and him who seduces another man's

eyrarúnu

close confidante;

þar só Níðhöggr

there Nidhögg sucked

nái framgengna

the corpses of the dead;

sleit vargr vera

the wolf tore men.

vituð ér enn eða hvat

Do you know yet, or what?

Austr sat in aldna

In the east sat the old woman

í Járnviði

in Ironwood

ok fæddi þar

and bred there

Fenris kindir.

the offspring of Fenrir.

Verðr af þeim öllum

Of them all there will be

einna nokkurr

one in particular,

tungls tjúgari

the moon's snatcher

í trolls hami.

in a troll's shape.

Fylliz fjörvi

He gorges on the life

feigra manna

of doomed men,

rýðr ragna sjöt

reddens the gods' dwellings

rauðum dreyra

with red gore;

svart var þá sólskin

black was the sunshine then

of sumur eftir

in the summers after,

veðr öll válynd

all weathers treacherous.

vituð ér enn eða hvat

Do you know yet, or what?

Sat þar á haugi

There sat on a mound

ok sló hörpu

and struck a harp

fyr jörð neðan

below the earth,

sótrauðr hani

a soot-red cock,

að sölum heljar.

in the halls of Hel.

Geyr Garmr mjök

Garm bays loudly

fyr Gnipahelli

before Gnipahellir;

festr mun slitna

the fetter will snap

en Freki renna

and Freki run free.

fjölð veit hon fræða

Much lore she knows;

fram sé ek lengra

further ahead I see

um ragnarök

to Ragnarök,

römm sigtíva.

the harsh [fate] of the victory-gods.

Bræðr munu berjaz

Brothers will fight

ok að bönum verða

and be each other's slayers;

munu systrungar

sisters' sons will

sifjum spilla

break the bonds of kinship;

hart er í heimi

it is hard in the world,

hórdómr mikill

great whoredom;

skeggöld skálmöld

an axe-age, a sword-age,

skildir eru klofnir

shields are split,

vindöld vargöld

a wind-age, a wolf-age,

áðr veröld steypiz

before the world falls headlong;

mun engi maðr

no man will

öðrum þyrma.

spare another.

Leika Míms synir

Mím's sons are at play,

en mjötuðr kyndiz

and fate is kindled

að en galla

at the ringing

Gjallarhorni

Gjallarhorn.

hátt blés Heimdallr

Loud blows Heimdall,

horn er á lofti

the horn is aloft;

mælir Óðinn

Odin speaks

við Míms höfuð

with Mím's head.

eɴ iotvɴ loſnar

and the giant breaks loose;

ſcelꝼr

there shudders Yggdrasil's

Ymr ið aldna tré

The ancient tree groans,

askr standandi.

ash, where it stands.

Geyr nú Garmr mjök

Now Garm bays loudly

fyr Gnipahelli

before Gnipahellir;

festr mun slitna

the fetter will snap

en Freki renna

and Freki run free.

fjölð veit hon fræða

Much lore she knows;

fram sé ek lengra

further ahead I see

um ragnarök

to Ragnarök,

römm sigtíva.

the harsh [fate] of the victory-gods.

Hrymr ekr austan

Hrym drives from the east,

hefiz lind fyr

his shield lifted before him;

snýz Jörmungandr

Jörmungand writhes

í jötunmóði.

in giant-fury.

Ormr knýr unnir

The serpent churns the waves,

en ari hlakkar

and the eagle screams,

slítr nái neffölr

pale-beaked, tears corpses;

Naglfar losnar.

Naglfar breaks loose.

Kjóll ferr austan

A ship sails from the east;

koma munu Muspellz

there will come Muspell's

um lög lýðir

people over the sea,

en Loki stýrir

and Loki steers.

fara fífls megir

The monster's sons go

með freka allir

all with the ravener;

þeim er bróðir

with them is the brother

Býleipz í för.

of Býleipt on the journey.

Hvat er með ásum

How is it with the Æsir?

hvat er með álfum

How is it with the elves?

gnýr allr Jötunheimr

All Jötunheim roars;

æsir eru á þingi

the Æsir are in council;

stynja dvergar

dwarfs groan

fyr steindurum

before their stone doors,

veggbergs vísir

wise ones of the rock walls.

vituð ér enn eða hvat

Do you know yet, or what?

Surtr ferr sunnan

Surt comes from the south

með sviga lævi

with the bane of branches;

skínn af sverði

there shines from his sword

sól valtíva.

the sun of the gods of the slain.

grjótbjörg gnata

Rock cliffs crash,

en gífr rata

and troll-women roam;

troða halir helveg

men tread the road to Hel,

en himinn klofnar.

and the sky splits.

Þá kjömr Hlínar

Then comes Hlín's

harmr annarr fram

second sorrow to pass,

er Óðinn ferr

when Odin goes

við úlf vega

to fight with the wolf,

en bani Belja

and Beli's slayer,

bjartr að Surti

the bright one, against Surt;

þá mun Friggjar

then Frigg's

falla angantýr.

beloved will fall.

Þá kjömr inn mikli

Then comes the great

mögr Sigföður

son of the Father of Victory,

Víðarr vega

Vídar, to fight

að valdýri.

with the beast of the slain.

Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs

Into Hvedrung's son he lets

mund um standa

stand, with his hand,

hjör til hjarta

the sword to the heart;

þá er hefnt föður.

then the father is avenged.

Þá kjömr inn mæri

Then comes the glorious

mögr Hlóðynjar

son of Hlódyn;

gengr Óðins sonr

Odin's son goes

við úlf vega

to fight with the wolf;

drepr hann af mæði

he strikes in fury,

Miðgarðs véurr

Midgard's guardian;

munu halir allir

all men will

heimstöð ryðja

leave their homesteads empty;

gengr fet níu

nine steps goes

Fjörgynjar burr

Fjörgyn's son,

neppr frá naðri

spent, away from the adder

níðs ókvíðnum.

that fears no shame.

Sól tér sortna

The sun begins to darken,

sígr fold í mar

earth sinks into the sea,

hverfa af himni

from the sky vanish

heiðar stjörnur.

the bright stars.

geisar eimi

Steam surges

við aldrnara

against the nourisher of life,

leikr hár hiti

high heat plays

við himin sjálfan.

against heaven itself.

Geyr nú Garmr mjök

Now Garm bays loudly

fyr Gnipahelli

before Gnipahellir;

um ragnarök

to Ragnarök,

römm sigtíva.

the harsh [fate] of the victory-gods.

Sér hon upp koma

She sees come up

öðru sinni

a second time

jörð ór ægi

earth out of the sea,

iðjagræna.

green again forever.

Falla forsar

Waterfalls tumble,

flýgr örn yfir

an eagle flies above,

sá er á fjalli

the one that on the mountain

fiska veiðir.

hunts fish.

Finnaz æsir

The Æsir meet

á Iðavelli

on Idavöll,

ok um moldþinur

and about the earth-rope,

mátkan dæma

the mighty one, they talk,

ok á Fimbultýs

and on Fimbultýr's

fornar rúnar.

ancient runes.

Þar munu eftir

There afterwards will

undrsamligar

the wondrous

gullnar töflur

golden game-pieces

í grasi finnaz,

be found in the grass,

þærs í árdaga

which in days of old

áttar höfðu.

they had owned.

Munu ósánir

Unsown will

akrar vaxa

fields grow;

böls mun allz batna

all ill will be mended;

Baldr mun. koma.

Baldr will come.

búa þeir Höðr ok Baldr

They will dwell, Höd and Baldr,

Hrofts sigtóftir

in Hropt's victory-halls,

vel valtívar

well, the gods of the slain.

vituð ér enn eða hvað

Do you know yet, or what?

Þá kná Hænir

Then Hœnir can

hlautvið kjósa

choose the lot-wood,

ok byrir byggja

and the sons dwell

bræðra tveggja.

of two brothers

Vindheim víðan

in the wide Wind-home.

vituð ér enn eða hvað

Do you know yet, or what?

Sal sér hon standa

A hall she sees standing,

sólu fegra

fairer than the sun,

gulli þakðan

thatched with gold,

á Gimlé.

at Gimlé.

Þar skulu dyggvar

There shall faithful

dróttir byggja

hosts dwell

ok um aldrdaga

and for all their days

ynðis njóta.

enjoy delight.

Þar kjömr inn dimmi

There comes the dark

dreki fljúgandi

dragon flying,

naðr fránn neðan

the gleaming adder, from below,

nepp frá Niðafjöllum.

barely, from Nidafjöll.

Berr sér í fjöðrum

He carries in his feathers

flýgr völl yfir

(he flies over the plain)

Níðhöggr nái

Nidhögg, corpses.

nú mun hon sökkvaz

Now she will sink.